New skills are key - Research Midwife Tracy's story

International Day of the Midwife - 5 May

Developing new skills to improve care - that's what drives Tracy Truslove as a Research Midwife.

Tracy has worked in the Research and Development Department at George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust in Nuneaton for two years and is its only Research Midwife. She is currently involved in the Giant PANDA study comparing two Pregnancy Antihypertensive Medications to find out which is best.

"There are so many reasons why research is important and an essential part of practice," said Tracy.

"For me it provides answers to questions that improves the care and experiences of women and their families. Becoming a Research Midwife provides opportunities to learn and develop a range of new skills.

"This runs alongside and complements your clinical knowledge, allowing you to think and make a difference in a different way.

"It also allows greater networking opportunities with both regional maternity units as well as other research organisations."
She has also recruited to:

- The Chapter Study - Childbirth Acquired Perineal Trauma Study (CRPT). This involved summarising existing research and good practice worldwide through four packages

- The Sunny Study - Snacktivity Intervention to promote physical activity during pregnancy

- MAGIC - Monitoring Maternal Glucose in Pregnancy

- Vaccination in Pregnancy Study - pregnant women's perceptions and acceptance of vaccinations during the COVID-19 pandemic

Most of the studies she undertakes fall into the Obstetric field. The majority of these are observational and questionnaire-based, although the MAGIC study did involve participants wearing a glucose-monitoring device.

Going forward, the department hopes to look at expanding studies to other areas, including Gynaecology and Neonates.
Tracy is currently awaiting the opening of a Neonatal Nurses retention study.